A facsimile transceiver apparatus is described which includes means for advancing a document to a station at which location the document is line scanned by a laser light beam. A video signal thus formed is transmitted to a remote facsimile apparatus for reproduction of the document. The transceiver further...http://www.google.com/patents/US3869569?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US3869569 - Facsimile transceiving apparatus

A facsimile transceiver apparatus is described which includes means for advancing a document to a station at which location the document is line scanned by a laser light beam. A video signal thus formed is transmitted to a remote facsimile apparatus for reproduction of the document. The transceiver further includes an electrostatographic printing station at which station a latent electrostatic image is formed by line scanning a laser light beam over a uniformly charged photoreceptor surface. A means for line scanning at the document scanning station and at the photoreceptor surface includes a laser light source and means for alternatively sweeping the laser light beam across the document at the scanning station or across a charged image retention surface at the printing station. Means are also described for enhancing document feed, resolution, and speed of reproduction.

Primary E.\'aminerRichard Murray [57] ABSTRACT A facsimile transceiver apparatus is described which includes means for advancing a document to a station at which location the document is line scanned by a laser light beam. A video signal thus formed is trans mitted to a remote facsimile apparatus for reproduction of the document. The transceiver further includes an electrostatographic printing station at which station a latent electrostatic image is formed by line scanning a laser light beam over a uniformly charged photoreceptor surface. A means for line scanning at the document scanning station and at the photoreceptor surface includes a laser light source and means for a1ternatively sweeping the laser light beam across the document at the scanning station or across a charged image retention surface at the printing station. Means are also described for enhancing document feed, resolution, and speed of reproduction.

19 Claims, 24 Drawing Figures PAIENTED m 4:915

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PATENTEUKAR 4197i 3,869,569

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PATENTED 41975 3,869,569

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iwo' 2a F ACSIMILE TRANSCEIVING APPARATUS This invention relates to facsimile transceiving apparatus. The invention relates more particularly to improvements to facsimile transceiving apparatus for enhancing the operation of such apparatus in both the transmitting and receiving modes.

Facsimile systems are known wherein graphic material including typewritten copy and pictorial information are converted into electrical signals and transmitted to a distant receiving station. These signals are generally reconverted to graphic form at the receiving station on a sensitized recording material.

Facsimile systems of this type exhibit various limitations which detract from the overall quality of the reproduced copy. More particularly, the copy is generally produced at the receiving station by a printing means which operates by electrostatic discharge or through the application of heat to sensitized paper. While this form of printing has produced acceptable copy, it nonetheless suffers from the requirementfor the use of a sensitized paper which is subject to variations in quality and uniformity during its production. The scanning and printing by an electrostatic discharge to the copy paper or the heating of the copy paper results in the reproduction of graphic material on a surface which generally provides less contrast than is desirable.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved form of facsimile transceiving apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a facsimile transceiving apparatus which is adapted for reproducing a copy with electrostatographic techniques.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved facsimile transceiving apparatus utilizing electrostatographic printing techniques and a coherent light source for imaging a photoreceptor surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved facsimile transceiving apparatus which is adapted for generating a video signal by scanning with a coherent light beam a document which is to be transmitted.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved facsimile transceiving apparatus having a scanning laser light beam which scans a document to be transmitted. in a transmitting mode and alternatively images a surface in a receiving mode of operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a facsimile apparatus a scanning laser light beam having a cross sectional area and form which is modified for enhancing resolution.

A further object of the invention is to provide a facsimile transceiving apparatus employing electrostatographic printing techniques having means for reproducing images at different rates and for speeding up the processing after forming and developing an image on a photoreceptor surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fac' simile transceiving apparatus employing electrostatographic printing techniques and having means for establishing a uniform charge on a photoreceptor surface which is transported at different rates.

Another object of the invention is to provide a facsimile transceiving apparatus having an improved means for document handling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a facsimile transceiving apparatus having an improved means for bottom feeding a document which is to be transmitted from a stack of documents.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bottom feeding document handling apparatus of improved reliability.

In accordance with the general features of this invention, a facsimile transmission apparatus includes means for advancing a document which is to be transmitted and reproduced past a line scanning station at which station the document is line scanned by a light beam and a video signal is formed for transmission to a remote facsimile apparatus for reproduction. The transceiver apparatus further includes an electrostatographic printing station including means for forming an electrostatographic image, for developing the image,

and for transferring the developed image to a record medium. The image formation means includes a line scanning laser light beam.

In accordance with more particular features of the invention, a line scanning laser light means includes a laser for supplying a substantially collimated, coherent light beam, together with a deflection system for selectively deflecting the light beam across the document at the scanning station in a direction generally transverse to the motion of the transported document or across a charged image retention surface at the printing station. A beam shaping means is provided for altering the cross sectional configuration of the generated laser light beam in order to provide a smaller cross sectional configuration which is narrowed further in the direction in which the laser light beam os deflected.

The transceiving apparatus includes means for varying the rate at which a photoreceptor surface at the printing station is advanced in order to provide compatible operation of the transceiver in a printing mode with transceivers adapted to operate at different scanning rates and to speed up the image transfer subse' quent to the formation and development of a latent electrostatic image. The charging means at the printing station is adapted to establish a uniform electrostatic charge on the image retention surface at the different printing rates. These and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent with reference to the following specification and to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transceiving apparatus constructed in accordance with features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the transceiving apparatus of FIG. 1 with its housing partly cut away in order to illustrate the general arrangement of components of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 2 with the housing removed in order to show the general arrangement of the components of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2 and illustrating a laser light source and optical projection system employed with the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along lines 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view taken along lines 9-9 of FIG. 5;

FIG. is an enlarged view of a portion of a document feeding station of the apparatus of FIG. 2;v

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a transceiving apparatus constructed in accordance with features of this invention. The transceiving apparatus is supported on a base 32 by a pedestal member 34. A plate 36 (FIG. 2), which is mounted on the pedestal 34 supports an electrostatographic printing means at a printing station referenced generally as 38 and a document feeding means located at a feeding and scanning station referenced generally as 40. A light scanning means for scanning a document at the station 40 in order to generate a' video signal representative of document information for transmission to a remote receiving transceiver is provided. This light scanning means, which is adapted for alternatively scanning an electrostatographic surface at the printing station 38 in order to form an image thereon, is mounted from a lower surface of the plate 36 and is referenced generally as 42. A conventional power supply means is provided and is indicated as 44. The transceiving apparatus thus far described provides a signalling format for communicating with a remote transceiver which enhances the transmission rate at which data is communicated to the remote transceiver. The details of this signalling format as well as the circuit arrangements for accomplishing transmission of data between two transceivers is disclosed in a copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 253,827 which is filed May I6, 1972 and assigned to the assignee of this invention. The following description of the transceiving apparatus will describe in order the light scanning means 42, the document feeding means 40, and the electrostatographic printing means 38.

The light scanning means 42 shown in detail in FIGS. 4-9 includes a source of coherent light comprising a laser and a light beam scanning galvanometer 52. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a laser light beam 54 is projected through a light beam intensity filtering arrangement 56 toward a reflective surface 58. The surfaceg58 reflects the light beam 54 through a lens arrangement 60 and toward a reflective surface 62. The beam 54 which then impinges upon the surface 62 is again reflected toward a reflective surface 64 of the galvanometer 52. The surface 64 is mounted to a movable coil of the galvanometer 52 and is' adapted for movement therewith. As the coil and the surface 64 are deflected through a predetermined arc and while the transceiver is operating in a printing mode, the light beam 54 reflected from the surface 64 is scanned across a printing reflective surface 66. The beam 54 is again reflected from surface 66 and projected through a slot 68 (FIG. 5) in the plate 36 toward a photoreceptor surface formed on an outer surface of a drum 70.

In an alternative mode of operation, a reflective surface 74 is positionedto intercept the light beam reflected from the surface 64. The beam 54 is then reflected by the intercepting surface 74 toward a scanning reflective surface 76. The beam 54 which is reflected from the surface 76 is projected toward a platen plate 78 upon which a document 80 is transported. A scanning station is formed by a slot in the platen within which a transparent body 82 comprising glass, for example, is mounted. The beam which impinges upon the reflective surface 76 is deflected along the scanning surface 76 and toward the document at the scanning station as the galvanometer mirror is deflected. Light which is diffusely reflected from the document 80 during this scanning process is intercepted by a photodetector 84 and electrical signals representative of the information contained in the document are generated. These signals are transmitted to a remote transceiver for reproduction of the document.

The laser 50 is shown to have a generally rectangular shaped housing and is mounted from a lower surface of the plate 36. The housing includes a shaded outlet aperture 92 through which the beam 54 emerges from the housing. The laser comprises a relatively low power helium-neon laser which produces a generally red colored laser light beam. The output beam 54 has a generally circular cross section of about 3.52 mm and a power level of on the order of about 0.8 milliwatts. Because the laser is utilized for generating an analog signal having an amplitude that is representative of data contained on the document being scanned and since the laser light beam is utilized for scanning and exposing a photoreceptor in image reproduction, the power level of the laser is required to be relatively closely controlled. A laser power level control arrangement which satisfies this need is described and claimed in a copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 239,144 which was filed on Mar. 29, 1972 and which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

As indicated hereinbefore, the transceiving apparatus is adapted for operating at differing sweep rates. The transceiving apparatus may operate at a scanning rate which provides for the transmission of an 8 /2 X l 1 inch sheet at a rate of 1 sheet in 6, 4, 3 or 2 minutes or at a rate of one-fourth minute for relatively rapid feed. Without more, of course, there would be unwanted variations in the exposure of the photoreceptor surface carried by the drum 70 because the energy level of the beam 54 emitted by the laser 50 is independent of the scanning rate selected. However, a filtering means is provided for selectively reducing the intensity of the scanning laser light beam in order to provide substantially uniform exposure at the different scanning rates. The filtering means includes a turret which is mounted on a drive shaft 102 for rotation therewith. The drive shaft 102 is driven by an electric motor 104 through gear reduction means 106. The motor and turret are supported by a U-shaped bracket 108 which is mounted to a lower surface of the plate 36. A rotary switch on the otherend of the shaft senses that the proper filter has been positioned in laser beam path.

The turrent 100 which is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 7 and 8 is formed of plastic for example and includes a centrally located hub segment 110 through which the drive shaft 102 extends and to which the hub 110 is secured by a set screw 112. The turret 100 further includes a generally planar shaped surface 114 which extends uniformly from the hub and upon which a plurality of filter mounting bosses 116-126 are supported. The bosses 116-126 are spaced at uniform angular intervals about the surface 114 and are each adapted to receive a filtering element 128-138 respectively. The filtering elements exhibit differing laser light beam intensity transmission characteristics. In a printing mode of operation, one of the filter elements will be positioned in the path of the laser light beam 54. Thus by selectively energizing the motor 104 by means of the rotary switch, the turret 100 is rotated to provide at the filtering station a filter element which transmits a laser light beam having an intensity which, when scanned across the photoreceptor surface at a predetermined scanning rate, will provide a uniform exposure characteristic with respect to the light beam which is transmitted through other filter elements for scanning at different rates. A relatively uniform exposure of the photoreceptor surface is thereby provided. When operating in a document scanning mode, intensity attenuation is not employed. A filter element is therefore eliminated from one of the bosses for this mode of operation or the element is adapted for providing substantially unattenuated transmission. The motor 104 is energized in accordance with signalling information which is received and detected by the transceiving appartus. An electrical receiving means for receiving and detecting this data is described in the hereinbefore referred to concurrently filed copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 253,827. The resolution of the reproduced image is enhanced by scanning the document being transmitted and the photoreceptor surface with a light beam having a relative narrow cross sectional configuration. The laser 50 provides an output light beam having a generally circular configuration of approximately 3.52 mm. in diameter. In order to enhance the resolution provided by this scanning light beam, the cross sectional configuration of the laser light beam is reduced in size and altered for providing a laser light beam which is narrower in the direction of beam scanning than in a direction transverse to the direction of scanning. This is accomplished by transmitting the beam 54 through an anamorphic lens arrangement. A typical anamorphic lens for accomplishing the desired beam shaping comprises a lens assembly having two focal lengths in 90 opposed planes. The focal planes for example, are 34 inches and 37 inches for a laser of the type described hereinbefore. The lens assembly 140 (FIG. 4) is supported in a mount 60 in the path of the laser light beam 54. The mount 60 is secured to a lower surface of the plate 36. FIG. 21A illustrates the generally circular cross sectional configuration of the light beam 54 which impinges upon the lens array, while FIG. 21B illustrates the cross sectional configuration of the light beam formed by the lens array at the image plane. FIG. 21B illustrates a major elliptical axis 142 and a minor elliptical axis 144 which extends in the direction of scanning.

The galvanometer 52 which provides scanning of the laser light beam 54 is supported from a lower surface of the plate 36 by a support bracket and a horseshoe magnet 152. The galvanometer is of the moving coil type including a coil, not illustrated, which is energized by a current having a waveform including ramp shaped segments and retrace segments. The galvanometer reflective surface 64 comprises a flat mirror which is mounted on the coil which is secured within the galvanometer 52. A current which, in turn, is applied to the galvanometer coil causes the mirror to deflect the impinging light beam through the angle 6. It is important to maintain the oscillatory angle 0 and the time duration of deflection and flyback period of the mirror 64 constant so that the scanning operation is properly synchronized with scanning at a remote transceiver. This is accomplished by a digital converter of a type described in detail in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 227,999 filed on Feb. 22, 1972 and which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention. In addition, the movement of the galvanometer is required to be clamped in order to correct for undamped oscillation thereof. In prior arrangements, the damping means have tended to underdamp or critically damp the movement. When the movement is critically damped or overdamped the deflection of the moving element becomes relatively slow and generally unsatisfactory inasmuch as relatively fast deflection rates are required. When the movment is underdamped, undesirable oscillations occur. A feedback correction circuit is described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 227,038 filed Feb. 22, I972, abandoned in favor of continuing application Ser. No. 402,541, filed Oct. l, 1973, and which is assigned to the assignee of this invention. This correction circuit provides for a relatively fast deflection of the movement while avoiding undamped oscillation thereof.

A feature of the present invention is the utilization of a same scanning laser light source for both scanning a document in a transmitting mode of operation and for imaging a photoreceptor surface during a receiving or printing mode of operation of the apparatus. To this end, means are provided for selectively transmitting the beam toward a scanning station for scanning the document being transmitted or toward a printing station for imaging a photoreceptor surface. This means includes the elongated mirror 74 which is supported by a metal strip 162 and is rotatably mounted to a mount 166 extending from a lower surface of a mounting plate 169 which is secured to the plate 36. A pin 168 is secured to the strip 162 in a notch 171 on the mount. The pin 168 is rotatably mounted in the notch by a spring clip 164. A resilient spring strip 173 is secured to a rear surface of the strip 162 and extends below the strip along a portion of its length.

A means is provided for adjusting the position of the mirror 74 in the document scanning mode of operation. In a first position as illustrated in FIG. 5 corresponding to a document scanning mode of operation, the mirror is positioned at an upper location in the path of the laser light beam. The mirror 74 thus intercepts this beam and causes it to reflect toward the scanning mirror strip 76. In a second relatively lower position, as illustrated in FIG. 22, the mirror is positioned out of the path of the beam 54 and the beam 54 is thus projected toward the printing mirror strip 66. A cam body 170 (FIG. 9) is securedto a drive shaft 172 for rotation therewith. The drive shaft 172 is mechanically coupled to a motor 174 through a gear box 176. Energization of the motor will result in rotating the cam 170 to either of two diametrically opposite positions. The cam 170 supports a stud v178 having a sloping surface 180 terminating in an upper edge which contacts the resilient body 173 during a scanning mode of operation and causes the mirror 74 to be raised to an upper location where'it intercepts and reflects the laser light beam toward the mirror 76. When, however, the cam 170 is rotated to a second diametrically opposite position, the. upper edge of the surface 180 is rotated and the resilient body 173 which then descends to the location as illustrated in FIG. 22. At this location, the mirror 74 is positioned outof the path of the light beam 54 which is then projected to the printer scanning mirror 66.

A means is provided for adjusting the position of the reflective mirror 74 in the document scanning position. This means comprises a screw 182 (FIG. 9.) which extends through and engages a threaded aperture 184 which is formed in the mirror support plate 162. One end of the screw 182 abuts a stop member 186 which is mounted to and extends from the support plate 169. Rotation of the screw 182 limit the maximum distance which the mirror support 162 and thus the mirror can travel in a vertical directin after being contacted by the upper edge of the sloping surface 180. Rotation of the screw 182 provides for accurate adjustment of the mirror 74 causing accurate projection of the light beam 54 toward the mirror 76 and the scanning station.

The reflective surfaces 58, 62, 66 and 76 referred to hereinbefore comprise plane mirrors which are supported by support brackets 190, 192, 194 and 196 respectively. Each of the brackets 190, 192, and 194 is secured to the bottom of the plate 36. The suport membersare arranged for positioning the surfaces of the mirrors in the path of the light beam for causing the desired reflection. For example, the bracket 190 supports the, mirror 58 for providing a 90+ change in path of projection of the beam 54. The bracket 192 supports the mirror 62 at an angle for causing an approximately l50 change in the direction of projection. The bracket 194 supports the mirror 66 for providing a vertical refleeting of about 60. Similarly, the bracket 196 provides for positioning the mirror 76 in order to establish a change in projection of about l. The mirrors are secured to the mounts by conventional means such as anadhcsive backing or other.

The document transport and scanning station 40 of FIG. 2 is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. -14. Included in the document feeding and scanning station is a feeding means 200 (FIG. 13) for bottom feeding a document from a stack of documents and a document transport means-204 (FIG. 10) for transporting a document past a scanning station and for discharging the scanned document into a receptacle. In addition, there is located in relatively close proximity to the scanning station an elongated photodetector 84 (FIG. 5) toward whicha portion of the laser light beam is diffusely reflected from the document for generating a video signal.

The document feeding means 200 includes a document supply tray 210 upon which a plurality of documents 212 are positioned for feeding to a platen 78. An endless drive belt 214 which is formed of an extensible material such as rubber for example extends about a drive pulley wheel 216, an eccentric pulley wheel 218, and an idler wheel 220. A slot 222 (FIG. 11) is formed in the tray 210 and the wheels and belt 214 are aligned with the slot. The belt during its movement will periodically rise in the slot as is described in greater detail hereinafter. A support bracket 224 (FIG. 13) is provided and is mounted from a lower surface of the platen 78. The idler wheel 220 is rotatably supported about a shaft 226 which is mounted to the bracket 224. The shaft is adapted to be selectively positioned and secured at a location along a slot 228 which is formed in the bracket 224 in order to establish a desired tension on the belt. The wheel 218 comprises a generally circular shaped wheel which is eccentrically mounted to a shaft 230. The eccentricity is slight and comprises an offset of shaft and wheel centers of 0.094 inch for example. The shaft 230 is supported on the bracket 224 and the wheel 218 rotates thereon. The bracket 224 also serves as a bushing for a drive shaft 232. The drive wheel 216 is secured to the drive shaft 232 through a conventional overrunning clutch, not illustrated, and is rotated with the shaft. An electrically energized clutch 234 (FIG. ll) is provided for mechanicallycoupling the drive shaft 232 to a drive hub 236 of a gear 238. The gear 238 engages a second gear 240 which is secured to a shaft 242. The gears 238 and 240 have a gear ratio for providing a speed reduction in the rate of rotation from shaft 242 and 232. The shaft 242 is driven by a belt 244 which engages a pulley 246 secured to the shaft. The belt 244 engages and is driven by a pulley on a drive motor 248 (FIG. 10).

When the transceiving apparatus is in a ready status for transmitting, the motor 248 is energized and its drive shaft is rotating. Accordingly, the belt 244 will drive the shaft 242 from which the shaft 232 is driven when the electrically energized clutch 234 is energized and engaged. Energization of the clutch 234 occurs when the transceiving apparatus is in a standby condition and a start signal generated by the operator of the local transceiver or initiated by a signal from a remote transceiver is received.

The bottom feeding means 200. further includes a retard wheel 250 which is supported above the plate 78 and is positioned for lightly contacting the belt 214. The retard wheel comprises an elongated tubular shaped body which is mounted through an overrunning clutch (not shown) to a shaft 252. The shaft 252 is journaled in bearing surfaces of a bracket 254 extending from a lower surface of support plate 256. As is indicated in greater detail hereinafter, the plate 256 can be further separated from the tray 210 and the plate 78 for providing access to the area to clear paper jams. The wheel 250 functions to restrict the forward transfer of documents above the lower document in the stack 212.

The document feeder 200 thus far described provides a variable contact of the belt with the stack of documents. More particularly the eccentricity of the wheel 218, causes the extensible belt 214 to project through the slot in the document tray where it contacts the bottom sheet of the stack of documents. The belt 214 contacts the retard wheel 250 along a portion of its periphery. An arc of the wheel 250 which is thus contacted in terms of an angle subtended of this arc, is referred to as wrap angle. The eccentricity causes a varying and cyclic wrap angle and a varying and cyclic tension in the belt. This varying belt contact with the